AMRITSAR: Mr. Atinder Pal Singh presented himself at Akal Takht and refuted various charges made against him by Akali Dal (M) leaders and certain militant organisations.
He also announced that he recognized the leadership of only the militants who were fighting for the ‘Sikh cause in accordance with the path shown by the late Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
I am not answerable to any individual but to the entire Panth, Mr. Atinder Pal Singh told a gathering in front of Akal Takht.
Mr. Atinder Pal Singh said he had appeared at Akal Takht in accordance with the Sikh principles and traditions to clarify his stand on certain issues on which certain so called responsible leaders had criticized him publicly.
Earlier, around 11 am Mr. Atinder Pal Singh along with his supporters paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum. He satin Darshani deori for about three hours and then went to Akal Takht. He addressed a small gathering there.
He did not seek the permission of SGPC for addressing a gathering at the complex.
Regretting that those who had tried defame him by making charges against him did not appear at Akal Takht, Mr. Atinder Pal Singh claimed that had brought with him various documents to substantiate his stand on controversial issues. He said he had approached the Damdami Taksal and certain respectable Sikh leaders who had doubts about him. He said he had been misquoted by the Press on his stand on the kirpan issue. Asserting that his approach was in accordance with the Sikh principles he said no leaders should try to misguide the Panth by making kirpan an issue,
He wondered why certain Akali leaders were insisting on carrying kirpan in Parliament only and not in Indian Airlines planes and other places.
On an allegation that he was government agent, the MP said certain individuals were upset over his unconditional acquittal on various charges framed against him by the government, claiming himself to a “loyal soldier” of the Panth, he said he had undergone. Torture in jail for about two years for fighting for the Sikh cause.
While in jail he had neither tried to approach the President nor asked for a meeting with the then Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. “T did not beg for mercy as certain Akali leaders had done,” he said.
Mr. Atinder Pal Singh disclosed that he and Mr. Simranjit Singh Mann had taken a joint decision during their trial not to come out of jail till all detained Sikh youths were released.
He said, “Everyone knows who was released even before the withdrawal of cases and brought to Amritsar in a BSF plane.
He asserted that he was elected as an independent with active support of the AISSF and militants, “I cannot associate myself with a party whose leader is out to defame me,” he said and added that he considered only the militants as his leaders.
Mr. Atinder Pal Singh criticized various Akali Dal factions for demanding the Assembly elections in Punjab and said the elections could not solve the problem. He cautioned Akali leaders against creating confusion about the aim of the Sikh struggle.
Lambasting the Akali Dal (M) leadership for its unity efforts, Mr. Atinder Pal Singh said it was strange that those responsible for “attacks” on the Golden Temple were being associated with the unity efforts,
If the Akalis were sincere about the Sikh struggle, they should accept the leadership of militants,
Anyone having doubts about him could meet him at Akal Takht any time, the MP from Patiala said and appealed to militants to summon all Akali leaders at Akal Takht to decide various issues.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 3, 1990
